Great Britain’s smooth path to the semi-finals turned treacherous yesterday,
as they failed to win a crucial point against China which would have taken
them straight to the next round.

A win or draw would have guaranteed the home side a place in the last four with one match to spare, but Great Britain’s defeat means they need a win over defending Olympic champions Holland, who have already qualified for the semi-finals, in their final Pool A match on Monday to guarantee progression.

Captain Kate Walsh rejoined her squad on the pitch sporting a guard for her jaw, which was broken six days earlier when she was hit in the face with a hockey stick. Her return should have boosted the squad, but they struggled to reproduce the form that earned them 12 goals in their first three matches.

Walsh said: “I think we all feel very disappointed with the result, and with the performance as well. We know we can play a lot better than that. Ball retention was pretty poor from us today.

“But it’s nothing magical that we have to turn out for the next game. We just have to bring our game to the Dutch. We’ll recover; we are a fit side, and we’ll come back fighting.”

The 32-year-old Reading defender admitted her past week had been a “whirlwind” following her painful injury, which necessitated a titanium plates being fitted to her jaw, but claimed she felt no fear returning to the pitch, saying: “That’s the game. It’s dangerous. I just want the ball, and I want the ball to go in the goal. That’s it.”

The first half ended goalless despite several attempts from both sides. Britain had their best chance shortly before the end of the first half with a series of penalty corners, but great goalkeeping from Zhang Yimeng saved four attempts in quick succession, including a swipe from Crista Cullen.

Leicester midfielder Anne Panter was hit in the face minutes before the break and was quickly walked off the pitch for treatment, but she returned to the field after half-time.

It all went wrong for Britain in the second half, as well-worked penalty corner goals from Fu Baorong and Zhao Yudiao put China firmly ahead.

Cullen flicked home a penalty corner with less than two minutes to play, but it was too late for the squad to recover the match. Many Britain players fell to the floor in despair as the final whistle blew.

Cullen said: “If there was an extra five minutes at the end of the game, I genuinely think we could have got that draw. But we learn from our mistakes, we move forward. Holland is the next challenge. I’m sure we are all very determined to get ourselves in the semi-finals whatever it takes.”

Britain remain second in the pool with nine points, followed on seven points by the Chinese, who face group minnows Japan tomorrow afternoon.